CHIMP SPORT: Baby Cricket Cranes Survive Sierra Leone Scare

Match Summary – Game 4

Uganda U19: 152 all out in 45.3 overs
Sierra Leone U19: 54 all out in 28.4 overs
Result: Uganda U19 won by 98 runs
Player of the Match: Richard Sohera

The Baby Cricket Cranes survived a tense low-scoring battle against Sierra Leone U19 to maintain their unbeaten run at the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Africa Division 2 Qualifier, securing a hard-fought 98-run victory at the Gahanga main oval in Kigali.

Uganda won the toss and elected to bat first, making one change to the side that defeated Ghana, with Kassimu Adam coming into the team for Felix Ochan.

The Baby Cricket Cranes endured a shaky start, losing four wickets during the first powerplay as Sierra Leone’s bowlers applied early pressure and disrupted Uganda’s top order.

Ronald Rubangakene fell for four before Devanshkumar Ritesh Patel and Abraiz Mir Ali also departed cheaply.

Samuel Ahaisibwe added 12 before Uganda found some stability through a crucial partnership between Richard Sohera and Robert Owilli.

Sohera played a patient innings of 31 off 55 balls, while Owilli top-scored with a well-crafted 53 off 83 deliveries, including three fours and a six.

Their partnership helped Uganda recover from the early setbacks and push the total beyond 100.

Kenneth Isiiko added 12 runs, with Daniel Rubangakene and the lower order contributing valuable runs as Uganda were eventually bowled out for 152 in 45.3 overs.

Sierra Leone’s bowling attack kept Uganda under pressure throughout the innings, with Dennis James claiming 3/23 from his 10 overs, while Aliya Kamara took 2/33 and captain Charles Kamara also picked up two wickets.

Defending the modest total, Uganda’s bowlers responded with a disciplined and relentless display, quickly putting Sierra Leone on the back foot.

Sierra Leone slipped to 12/3 before losing wickets at regular intervals as Uganda maintained pressure from both ends. They reached 49/9 before the final wicket fell at 54 in 28.4 overs.

Captain Charles Kamara offered some resistance, top-scoring with 26 off 67 balls, including two fours and a six, but the rest of the Sierra Leone batting line-up struggled against Uganda’s disciplined attack.

Richard Sohera, Hamid Munigwa and Jackson Asiku each claimed three wickets to complete the collapse, while the remaining wicket fell through a run-out.

Sohera was named Player of the Match after contributing 31 runs with the bat before returning with two wickets in his 8 over where he bowled three maidens and conceding only 19 runs.

Reflecting on the game, Head Coach Grace Mutyagaba admitted that Uganda did not start well with the bat and failed to recover as expected, but praised the players for holding their nerve under pressure.

“We did not start so well in our batting innings and we even failed to recover. The boys held their nerve and got us to 152. We expected a game like this one, and this was a reality check, but I am happy that the boys managed to come out on top of the challenge,” Mutyagaba said.

With the tournament now taking a rest day, the Baby Cricket Cranes will have an opportunity to recover before returning to action on Saturday for their final game against hosts Rwanda at the Gahanga Main Ground.

“We have a rest day tomorrow, and we will just allow the boys to cool off before we take on Rwanda in the last game on Saturday. Our target is simple: winning all our games and completing the tournament. No rocket science, just sticking to the processes,” Mutyagaba added.

The result keeps the Baby Cricket Cranes unbeaten in the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Africa Division 2 Qualifier and strengthens their push for promotion back to Division One.

Uganda will now look to complete the tournament with another victory against Rwanda on Saturday at Gahanga main ground.